LOKSEUMAWE - The Chief of Staff of the Army (KSAD) General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak, M.Sc., inaugurated the Garuda Suspension Bridge in Sawang District, Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, Monday (9/3/2026). The inauguration also marked the launch of 200 points of the Garuda Bridge in various regions of Indonesia that have been completed.
The construction of this bridge is a solution for the community who have been experiencing transportation access difficulties, especially when crossing the river that separates a number of villages in the area.
The inauguration was marked by the cutting of the ribbon by the KSAD, witnessed by elements of Forkopimda, community leaders, and local residents. The presence of this bridge is a form of concern for the Indonesian Army in helping to overcome the difficulties of the people, as well as opening safer and faster access for citizen mobility.
On this occasion, the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian National Army General Maruli said that the construction of a bridge in Aceh was also part of a series of activities for the TNI AD Ramadan visit as well as to directly review various projects that had been carried out in the area. "Why did I choose Aceh, at the same time we are Ramadan around, at the same time break the fast in Aceh and see the project in Aceh. We also got a lot of input, how are the schools, how is this bridge now, later we will try to discuss the traffic that is dense must not be a suspension bridge," said the Chief of Staff.
KSAD General Maruli also revealed that the TNI AD prioritizes the development of infrastructure in disaster-affected areas. To date, surveys have been conducted on approximately 480 locations which include the construction or improvement of bridges, schools, the provision of clean water, and the construction of temporary housing (huntara) and permanent housing (huntap).
Ahead of Eid al-Fitr, the TNI AD remains focused on helping to overcome the impact of disasters through various development programs, including the construction of the Garuda Bridge. If the infrastructure that has been rebuilt is damaged by a major flood or other disasters, the TNI AD is ready to help rebuild. "We happen to be able to work on it, we do it. There are big families who get disasters, yes, we do it," added the KSAD.
Until now, the TNI AD has completed 135 Garuda Bridges in three regions in Sumatra that were affected by disasters. Nationally, the construction of more than 6,000 Garuda Bridges is targeted to be completed in about 1.5 years.
On this occasion, the KSAD also reported to the President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto via video conference regarding the construction of bridges in a number of regions in Indonesia, including the construction of temporary housing and the provision of boreholes for the community.
After the inauguration, KSAD Maruli, accompanied by the Chairman of the General Association of Kartika Chandra Kirana, Ny. Uli Simanjuntak, reviewed the school which had been cleaned and was used again for teaching and learning activities, and handed over social assistance to the local community.
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